The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-24
THE LITTLE VIDETTE.

f-.ulzo was proceeding al "a slow pace
I.re "a retired peih In the direction Of
,t. enemy. and exploring the country
.f.nn,ely The troop was commanded
..an officer aud a sergeant, ara all were
Gazing into the distance ahead Of them
an eyes fixed silent and prepared at
.rr moment TO see the uniforms Of the
r.m.c, advance posts CLEAN white be
fra them through the trees. In this
,rIor they arrived az "a rustic cabin sur
rounded hy ash trees, IN front Of which
,f0al g. solitary boy. about L. years old,
uL0W removing the bark from a small
branch with knife. I'm order 10 make
himself siicl. of 3d. From one window
a lo little house lioated a large tri col
.ri aag There was no one inside. The
peasant bad fed after hanging out the
fr ir fear OF the Austriaus. As soon
The Dad saw the cavalry be flung aside
dis stick and raised the flag. lie WAS a
handsome boy, with q bold face aud large,
blue eyes and long golden hair. lie was
mls shirt siecvos and his breast was bare.
-Nhlt are you doing here the officer
asked him, refining IN his horse "Why
$40 y0u not flee with your family
d have mo- family" said the boy, u am
imuilnr do "a little work for every
iuly remained here to see the war by
nave you seen any Ausirians pass.
$50. not f0v these throe days
Ile officer paused q while and thought.
Tu he lcapcd from his horse, and leav-
.1 bis soldiers there with their faces
tuned toward their foe, he mounted TO
rar00i The house was low. From the
rf only a small tract Of country was
visible lit viii be necessary to climb
OLD. trees, said thc officer, and descended
Just in front Of tho garden plot rose q
s.ry slender and lofty ash tree which
u rocking lis crest in the azure The
officer stood o brief space IN thought caz-
u- now 90 the tree and then at the sol
Uer Then suddenly he asked the lad,
us yOur sight good You monkey
"Miuo replied She boy II can spy a
.ouut sparrow mile away"
''Arc you good for a climb 10 the top Of
ilis trec,'
10 the top Of this tree. J. Iwill De up
there iu halo a minute
And viii you be able 10 tell me what
,ou see mp there if there are Austrian
soldiers in that direction clouds of dust,
cleaning guns, horses.
Certainly shall
What DO you demand for this services
What do I demand, said the lad,
smiling Nothing a nne thing that
would be. indeed And then, If it We're
jon the Germans, 1 would not DO il on any
terms But for our men, ] am Lom-
tafdr
Good Then up with yOu
Wait a moment TN ! take OF my
shoes
lie pulled or his shoes tghtened the
.ith of his trousers, flung his cap on the
grass and claspcd the trunk OF The ash.
Take care now, exclaimed the officer,
making @ movement % hold him back, as
though seized with sudden terror.
The boy turned 20 look at him, with his
handsome blue eyes, cs though interro-
eating him.
$40 matter" said The officer Up
with your
Up went tle lal Ike q cat
keep watch ahead shouted the Off
Ger o. the soldiers.
In % ieW moments tie boy was at the
top oi tle tree tWined round the trunk
with bis lees among the leaves, but his
body displayed 90 view, aud Che sun beat
iug down on bis blond head, which
seemed 10 be Of gold The officer could
hardly see him, so small did he seem up
there.
Look straight ahead and far away,
shouted the officer
The lad, ia order TO see better, re-
moved lis right hand from the tree, and
shaded his eyes with il.
What do YOU see.n said the officer
The boy inclined his head toward him,
ard making a speaking trumpet OF his
hand replied, "Iwo men on horseback on
the white road
"At what distance from here"
Half a mile
Are they moving
They are standing still
"What else do yOn seef' asked the
officer. after a momentary silence Look
% The right.
The boy looked to the right. Then he
said. Near the cemetery, among the
trees. there is something glittering. 1t
seems 20 be bayonets,
DO you see men,
No; they must be concealed in the
grain"
Al that moment the sharp whizz Of a
bullet passed high up in the air and died
away IN the distance behind the house.
NlAAA AHNAf tbf AttNf "-tNNNNNN 'NN
officer. "they have seen You. do not
want anything more Come down.
IL an not afraid, replied the boy
Come down. repeated the oMcer
Wha. else DO you see 70 he left''
To the lell,'
Yes. 20 the left
The lad turned his head 20 The left At
that moment another whistle, more acute
and lower than the first, cut the air. The
boy was thoroughly aroused.
They ave actually aiming at me-" he
exclaimed The bullet had passed at a
short distance from him.
Down" shouted the officer, imporlous
aud irr.tated
Il viii come down presently, but the
tgee shelters me. 10 not fear You want
10 know what there is 10 the leftf
Yes to the left answered the officer,
but come down
To the left, % shouted the lad, thrust.
lug his body ont in that direction, lyon.
der, where there is "a chapel, / think
roe --